Electrode terminal connections for the electrolysis of seaport and related waters



Sept. 13, 1949. G. c. cox 2,481,827

ELECTRODE TERMINAL CONNECTIONS FOR THE ELECTROLYSIS OF SEAPORT ANDRELATED WATERS Original Filed Aug. 14,.1941

Patented Sept. 13, 1949 ELECTRODE TERMINAL CONNECTIONS FOR THEELECTROLYSIS OF RELATED WATERS George Chandler-Cox, Charleston, W. Va.

, Original application August 14, 1941, Serial No. 406,900. Divided andthis application March 24, 1944, Serial No. 527,986

The invention described herein, if patented, may be manufactured andused by or for the Government for governmental purposes without thepayment of any royalty'thereon.

This invention relates to improved types of cable terminal connection onelectrodes, which are submerged in sea, sea port, or brackish waterscontaining chlorides.

An object of this invention is to produce an improved connectionbetweenan electrode for use in decomposing sea, sea port, or brackish watersand one or more cables supplying electric energy to the electrode.

Another object of this invention is to produce a totally submerged typeof cable connection for an electrode used for decomposing sea, sea port,or brackish waters which will have a longer useful life than the life ofthe electrode.

A further object of this invention is to arrange the location of thecurrent dissipating'surfaces of an electrode for decomposing sea, seaport, or brackish waters so that the terminal block or cable connectionto the electrode will be screened from excessive electrolytic action.

In this spcification Figure 1 is a vertical section of an electrodewhich has been found to give an excellent screening eiiect to the cableconnection and terminal block. Figure 2 is a cross section along theline 2 -2 of Figure 1, showing a four vane typeof electrode. Figure 3 issimilar to Figure 2 except that the cross section of a six vaneelectrode is shown. Figure 4 shows a multiple rod type of electrode thatgives excellent screening to the terminal block. Figure 5 is a sectionalong the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Each individual type of electrode connection herein illustrated has beenfound to give very useful results with one or more of the variousprocesses claimed in my U. S. Patent No. 2,200,- 469 of May 14, 1940.

In this application brackish water is defined as water which containschloride ions of any of the inland tidal ports handling ocean orcoastwise marine traffic. It is intended that these electrodeconnections and terminals may be used in electrolytes such as open seaor sea port water, or in water as above defined or any water containinga suflicient amount of calcium and magnesium ions to enable the coatingprocesses set forth in my Patent Number 2,200,469 to be carrled out.

In Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, similar members refer to similar parts. irepresents an electric cable protected by an insulating covering 2,preferably waterproof. In normal practice the 4 Claims. (Cl. 204288)SEAPORT AND end of the cable is usually soldered or brazed, as shown by3, to the metal terminal block 4 of the electrode.

Figure 4 shows the use of a two-part terminal block in which theelectric cable is soldered or brazed into a tapered pin terminal block4'. The terminal block 4 contains a tapered hole into which the taperedpin block 4 can be tightly driven. The terminal block 4 will normallyhave been fastened so as to insure good electrical con nection to theproper part of the electrode. The tapered terminal block4 would normallyhave the cable soldered or brazed into it before being driven into thecoacting block 4. If the angle of the tapered hole and pin is madesufiiciently small and accurate a low resistance permanent water tightconnection will be made by driving the pin into the block. An advantageof such a connection is its convenience for use in the field.

In Figures 1, 2 and 8 the terminal block 4 of a metallic electrode alsoconstitutes the currentdistributing plate and may be welded or otherwisefastened to the fins 5, the surfaces of which constitute the activeelectrode surfaces. In Figures 4 and 5 the terminal block 4 may bewelded, riveted, bolted or held by other means to a current distributingplate 6. This distributing plate may'bewelded or otherwise fastened tothe rods 1, which constitute the active electrode.

When one or more of the electrode assemblies (with or without screening)are constructed of non-metallic materials as graphite, magnetite, etc.,the terminal block 4 is generally screwed into the current distributingplate 6 and the electrode rods 1 are also generally screwed into thecurrent distributing plate 6.

Life tests of a 4 vane metal electrode built as shown in Figures 1 and 2havedemonstrated that the terminal block 4 is sumciently screened fromelectrolytic action to. be in usable condition until the vanes arecompletely eaten up. However, a construction as shown in Figure 3 using6 vanes gave a slightly better screening action than that obtained withthe 4 vane electrode; an 8 vane electrode gave even better screeningthan a 6 vane electrode, and so on. A construction similar to that shownin Figures 4 and 5 gave good screening to all metal surfaces inside ofthe electrode bars 1.

As the number of vanes is increased the dissipating area becomes lessbecause the resistance through the electrolyte to the outer dissipatingsurfaces is lower than to the inner surfaces. The rod type electrode ofFigure 4 and 5 is therefore the outgrowth of a multiple vane electrodein .Plete as the number of vanes or number of electrodes is increased;however, electrodes which are constructed in accordance with thesespecifications have given continuous service without maintenance formore than a year. Such low cost labor maintenance is the essence of lowcost uses of applicants U. S. Patent No. 2,290,?69101 May '1 A coveringI0 such as a short piece of rubber hose will prevent abrasion of thecable insulation 2 as well as prevent excessive flexing of the .coppercable wires where the cable comes through the upper spacer plate.

This novel and useful means of and apparatus for protecting the terminalblock and/or current dissipating head of an electrode which is used forthe purposes described consists in reducing the current density .on theparts to be protected to :a predetermined desired value below that ofthe dissipating surfaces by causing the current dissipating surfaces toact as a screen by suitably disposing them in space relationship aroundthe parts to be protected.

When desirable for certain uses the electrode rods may be fastened to acentral terminal block in such a way that the electrode rods stick outfrom one terminal block radially in all directions or radially in one ormore planes. This type of electrode gives good screening to the terminalblock and allows extremely simple electrode rod replacements to be made.7

It is often useful to have the terminal block 4 of greater diameter thanany of the electrode rods. In such a case imperfect screening orshielding can be allowed and still obtain a greater "useful life of theterminal block than the electrode rods or bars.

When desired two or more terminal blocks may be used on one electrode.

Furthermore, I have found that the combinati-on of the above speciesinto the designof an electrode terminal cable connection for use in sea,sea port, or brackish water electrolysis often gives a type ofconnection more exactly adapted to some specific a lication'than the useof any one species. Theillustrated species are all considered to fulfillthe basic essential requirement of supplying an electric current to anefficient long life'ele'ctrode for decomposing sea, sea port, andrelated waters. These requirements are; (a) constant low contactresistance of a cable connection during .the useful life of anelectrpde, (l7) long life of the connection without attention, to) lowinitial cost and maintenance, and (d) simplicty of in a ation.

' The expression screening as used herein is fmtended to mean a currentblocking action resulting from the positioning of the electrode vanes orrods adjacent one another about the cable termin l. flhe lines ofelectrolytic current distribuandoned.

York, 1930, page 112.8.

'4 tion which flow laterally from each electrode vane or rod toward theadjacent electrode vanes or rods crowd each other and tend to flowoutwardly, resulting in very little electrolytic current adjacent thecable terminal. Thus, the mutual effect of the e ectrode vanes-or rodsis a screening effect which protects the cableterminal from excessiveelectrolytic current and consequent deterioration.

This application is a division of my application {or Electrode terminalconnections for the electrolysis'of seaport and related waters, filedAugust 14, 1941, Serial No. 406,900, now

I claim: 2 .1. Ananode :Eor electrolytic apparatus comprising :anannular electrically conductive plate, an

insulated lead-in cable extending through the central hole of theannular plate and electrically and mechanically. connected to the underside of the plate, and .a plurality of elongated electrodes securedintermediate their ends to the annular around the periphery thereof,each said electrode being equallyspaced from proximal electrodes andextending transversely of the plate, whereby to screen the connection ofthe cable to plate from excessiveelectrolytic current.

REFERENCES orrnn vThe following references are of record in the file ofthis patent: t

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Number Name 507,374 Lyte Oct. 24, I893 508,091 Cutten Nov. 7, 1893658,891 Carmichael Oct.2,'1900 1,4'6!7,0B0 .Munning 'Sept. 4, 1923 71,481,648 Levin Jan. 22, 192-41; 1,709,523 1Delavie 1 Apr. 16, 19291,910,044 Parker s May 23, 1933 2,177,453 Donald .Oct. 24, 19392,315,897 Hansell Apr. 6, 1943 2,3i-9,'624 Olsen May 18, 1-943 2,323,952Wick July 13, 1943 OTHER REFERENCES "Electroplating with Chromium,Copper, and Hickek by Freeman, Prentice-Hall, Inc" New

